TheCable

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa would attend the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president-elect, according to Jeff Radebe, a minister in Zuma’s cabinet.

Radebe said this on Tuesday during a media briefing of the inter-ministerial committee that South Africa set up to review the xenophobic attack in its country.

South Africa had recently expressed interest in working with Buhari, taunting President Goodluck Jonathan over some challenges affecting his administration.

Reacting to the report that Nigerian high commissioner to the country was recalled over xenophobic attacks, Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of the department of international relations and cooperation, criticised Jonathan’s government.

“The South African government takes note that the outgoing government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has recalled its acting high commissioner to South Africa,” Monyela said in a statement.

“A government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government.

“It is only Nigeria that has taken this unfortunate and regrettable step … We will raise our concerns through diplomatic channels with the new administration that will assume office in Nigeria next month.”

Nigeria subsequently denied recalling the ambassadors, saying they were only summoned to advise the government on the steps to take regarding the welfare of Nigerians amid the attack.

Jonathan went further to suspend Danjuma Sheni, a permanent secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs, over his role in the issue.

Though Radebe said South Africa and Nigeria maintain a cordial relationship, citing the investment opportunities of South African companies in Nigeria to buttress his point, the fact remains that both countries have been having difficult diplomatic relations, particularly under Jonathan.

The countries clashed over the course of action in the disputed Cote d’Ivoire elections in 2011 as well as the overthrow of Muammar Ghaddafi as Libyan leader.

South Africa also deported Nigerians over failure to provide valid yellow fever immunisation cards at entry point, an action Nigeria replied in kind.

The country also embarrassed Nigeria by not only seizing about $15 million meant for the procurement of arms to tackle insurgency but also went ahead to make the seizure public, describing the money as proceeds of illegal transaction.